Apparatus for Adjustable Height Basketball Standard

Abstract

A height adjustable basketball standard comprises a fixed support pole, configured to support a backboard assembly above a playing surface. A lifting link has a base end and a traveling end. The base end is pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and the traveling end is pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly. A parallel link has a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly. A drive mechanism is coupled to the support pole and engages the lifting link. The drive mechanism is configured to provide a force which is sufficient to pivot the lifting link relative to the fixed support pole, thereby adjusting the height of the backboard assembly relative to the playing surface. The drive mechanism engages the lifting link in a manner sufficient to vertically move the backboard assembly about 1 inch upon moving the force application point of the lifting arm about ⅕ of an inch.

1 . A height adjustable basketball standard, comprising:
 a fixed support pole, configured to support a backboard assembly above a playing surface;   the fixed support pole including a pair of upwardly extending opposing shoulder plates;   a lifting link, having a base end and a traveling end, said base end pivotally coupled to the pair of opposing shoulder plates and said traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a parallel link having a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly; and   a drive mechanism, coupled to the support pole and engaging the lifting link, said drive mechanism being configured to provide a force which is sufficient to pivot the lifting link relative to the fixed support pole, thereby adjusting the height of the backboard assembly relative to the playing surface.   
   
   
       2 . A height adjustable basketball standard, comprising:
 a fixed support pole, configured to support a backboard assembly above a playing surface;   a lifting link, having a base end and a traveling end, said base end including a pair of opposing shoulder plates, the pair of opposing shoulder plates being pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole, said traveling end being pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a parallel link having a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly; and   a drive mechanism, coupled to the support pole and engaging the lifting link, said drive mechanism being configured to provide a force which is sufficient to pivot the lifting link relative to the fixed support pole, thereby adjusting the height of the backboard assembly relative to the playing surface.   
   
   
       3 . A height adjustable basketball standard, comprising:
 a fixed support pole, configured to support a backboard assembly above a playing surface;   a lifting link, having a base end and a traveling end, said base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and said traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a parallel link having a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a drive mechanism, coupled to the support pole and engaging the lifting link, said drive mechanism being configured to provide a force which is sufficient to pivot the lifting link relative to the fixed support pole, thereby adjusting the height of the backboard assembly relative to the playing surface; and   wherein substantially all components for adjusting the height of the standard are substantially contained within the fixed support pole.   
   
   
       4 . A height adjustable basketball standard, comprising:
 a fixed support pole, configured to support a backboard assembly above a playing surface;   a lifting link, having a base end and a traveling end, said base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and said traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a parallel link having a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a drive mechanism, coupled to the support pole and engaging the lifting link, said drive mechanism being configured to provide a force which is sufficient to pivot the lifting link relative to the fixed support pole, thereby adjusting the height of the backboard assembly relative to the playing surface; and   wherein the drive mechanism engages the lifting link at a force application point, the force application point being located within the fixed support pole and being located on the lifting link between the base end and the traveling end of the lifting link.   
   
   
       5 . A height adjustable basketball standard, comprising:
 a fixed support pole, configured to support a backboard assembly above a playing surface;   a lifting link, having a base end and a traveling end, said base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and said traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a parallel link having a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly;   a drive mechanism, coupled to the support pole and engaging the lifting link, said drive mechanism being configured to provide a force which is sufficient to pivot the lifting link relative to the fixed support pole, thereby adjusting the height of the backboard assembly relative to the playing surface; and   wherein the drive mechanism engages the lifting link in a manner sufficient to vertically move the backboard assembly about 1 inch upon moving the force application point of the lifting arm about ⅕ of an inch.   
   
   
       6 . A height adjustable basketball standard, comprising:
 a fixed support pole and a backboard assembly, the fixed support pole being configured to support the backboard assembly above a playing surface;   a lifting link, having a base end and a traveling end, the base end being pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole;   the traveling end of the lifting link having a forked attachment bracket extending therefrom, the forked attachment bracket being pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly at a horizontal center of a backboard of the backboard assembly; and   a parallel link having a parallel base end pivotally coupled to the fixed support pole and a parallel traveling end pivotally coupled to the backboard assembly.